24 Comments
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Christiana White's avatar

This is beautiful, raw, honest, and I love it.

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

But how do you really feel Christiana? Thank you. Glad it hit you so directly.

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Pattie Lee Pierce's avatar

What a superlative piece of writing and also a great tribute to you mother.❤️

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

Thank you Pattie Lee

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@mstashi's avatar

And here's Amy! Those gorgeous caftans, always the best food and and convos that went on and on... Love your evoking of such a complex woman. How would she weigh in on the student protests? With leadership and POV.

And your little kumbayah, so nice. Amy is missed at a time like this.

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

A little kumbayah never hurts. She said she believed in her heart America was not a fascist country. Let's hope she's right.

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Kennon B. Raines's avatar

Yes! Beauty, colors, light, aromas, flowers, music, the arts of all kinds...are therapy for the soul! A friend of mine, Rachel Lovey, who performed with the EarthLight Theater Troupe at the original Woodstock is hoping to do a one woman show about Bella Abzug. So cool that your mom was Bella's "war time consigliere!"

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

You can never go wrong evoking the Godfather. Therapy for the soul. I like it.

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Joshua Nearly's avatar

Thanks… there’s a lingering sweetness in this one that I like very much.

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tamara pullman's avatar

I have grown to embrace the old fashioned term, ‘domestic arts’, out of some sort of defensive instinct, but I do like the elegance of ‘living arts’, and think I’ll adopt it~ thanks Tommy.

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

You can have it TP, but it may cost you some citrus.

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Marlene McKee's avatar

The living arts - from cooking to sex - love it, also your mother.

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Marc Typo's avatar

Man, everytime you write I can’t decide if I want to hear you read or the words are just enough. So much music in them. I felt the Adam and Eve line deeply. But the subtle conflict with mom hit me deep. My therapist says we have venerated our mothers - it almost feels wrong to try and tear that image down.

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

Marco, I'm glad you feel me swinging. And just to be clear it was a not a subtle conflict, but that just makes the opportunity for healing even greater. Love reading your stuff.

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Marc Typo's avatar

Likewise man!

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Josephine Spilka's avatar

Beauty is the best nourishment, flowers a singular source. Love that you love yourself that way and your mother…

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

Well said Ms Spilka

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Andrea Hicks's avatar

Perfect ending to this piece. May the healing continue. She was an extraordinary woman. xx

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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

Spoken like a true non-family member :). She was a force, and an endless source of interesting things to write about. Big life, big psyche, lots to heal from.

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Noha Beshir's avatar

Love the line about the living arts. And about your mother . All those accomplishments, but she could have been nicer, as you put it. I felt that both as child and as mother. Phew!

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Will Boucher's avatar

The last lines are so raw and beautiful. Loved the whole thing. On my way to the nursery now :)

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tamara pullman's avatar

ha! deal.

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Apr 30, 2024
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Tommy Swerdlow's avatar

Thank you Bethel Hew. What an incredible name. Good for writer, town or University.

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